Nurse Practitioners Enhance Collaborative Care Approach In PMH

Nurse Practitioner (NP) Week is being nationally recognized this year from November 11 to 17th and it provides another opportunity to acknowledge the important role NPs play in providing care within Prairie Mountain Health (PMH).

NPs are Registered Nurses who have taken additional education and training at the Masters level. They have undergone a minimum of six years of formal education and have a wealth of experience to draw from.

Within PMH, 20 Nurse Practitioners are presently working across the region. These 20 dedicated practitioners work with their clients collaboratively to address identified health care needs. (Listing of NP locations and appointment information can be found here).

NPs provide a holistic approach to care and take time to become familiar with their clients’ needs and health care goals. They assess the client, order any required diagnostic tests, interpret the results of the tests, and develop a treatment plan including ordering any medications or treatments. If their assessment indicates that the client would benefit from a referral they can complete the referral to allied health professionals (e.g. Physiotherapy). Referrals can also be made to specialists like Obstetricians or to other service providers (e.g. Addictions Foundation of Manitoba).

PMH recently recruited three new graduates from the University of Manitoba NP program. Kali Peterson works at 7th Street Health Access Centre in Brandon. Jillian Turner works out of the Rivers Medical Clinic, and provides services to Sioux Valley First Nation. Jenna McBryan, located in the Hamiota Medical Clinic, will be providing service to Birdtail Sioux First Nation.

NPs generally book appointments for longer periods to ensure they can become familiar with the clients with an objective of meeting as many of their needs as possible. Clients can see NPs for a variety of things like general aliments (sore throat, earache), to chronic disease management for diseases like diabetes. They can help to address mental health issues and can collaborate with specialists or mental health workers to ensure clients’ needs are being met. NPs pride themselves in providing not only care for existing conditions but also working with clients to promote health through regular screening and education.

In PMH, the majority of the NPs work in the clinic setting, however, some offer services in Long Term Care and others work on the Mobile Clinic (Primary care bus). NPs also travel to First Nation communities to provide primary care to members of those communities.

PMH is fortunate to have this wealth of expertise to help address the primary care needs of our population.